Kent Ornithological Society

The Kent List

The Kent List

The Kent List is composed of all of those species that have been reported in Kent, and accepted by both the Kent Ornithological Society Records Committee (KOSRC) and the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), and are included on the official British List kept by the British Ornithological Union Records Committee (BOURC).

The British List follows that published by the British Ornithologists Union (BOU, Dec. 2017), following the sequence recommended by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC).

There are three species that are currently in circulation with the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), that would be welcome additions to the Kent List. These are –

Falcated Duck, Anas falcata.
The BBRC is currently reviewing all previous records of this species. In 2003 a drake was present at West Hythe and Lympne from 15th April until 14th June. A potential first for Kent.

Pied Crow, Corvus albus.
A bird, first seen coming in off the sea at Joss Bay on 6th May 2019, wandered the north Kent coast as far west as Swalecliffe until 21st. A potential first for the UK and Kent.

Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster.
A record from Swalecliffe on 19th August 2019 was viewed distantly and photographed. A potential first for the UK and Kent.

A severe storm system swept through the English Channel in early June creating a significant movement of Storm Petrels from the North Sea area into the Straits of Dover and along the east and south Kent coast. Duplication of sightings was highly likely, with peak counts at Dungeness as follows –

Dungeness, 26 birds flew west, 7th June.

Dungeness, 40 birds flew west, 8th June.

Dungeness, single bird flew west, 9th June.

Leach’s Petrel
Fulmar

Cory’s Shearwater

CORY’S SHEARWATER

Calonectris diomedia

Uncommon Passage Vagrant

1954

Isle of Sheppey, two birds, 14th November.

1966

Dungeness Bird Observatory, two birds, 15th May.

1967

Sandwich Bay, one north, 19th September.

1968

Dungeness Bird Observatory, one west, 13th April.

1969

Dungeness Bird Observatory, one west, 13th April.

1971

North Foreland, 17th November.

1972

Dungeness Bird Observatory, two west, 16th April.

Sandwich Bay, 7th May.

1977

Rye Bay, 4th April.

Dungeness Bird Observatory, two west, 15th May.

Dungeness Bird Observatory, two west, 11th June.

1978

Dungeness Bird Observatory, 13th April.

Dungeness Bird Observatory, 5th May.

Minnis Bay, one west, 1st October.

1979

Dungeness Bird Observatory, 24th April.

Foreness, 29th July.

1982

Foreness, one east, 9th January.

Foreness, one west, 30th July.

1983

North Foreland, feeding behind trawler, 16th October.

1987

Dover, from ferry, 6th June.

Dungeness Bird Observatory, one west, 16th August.

St. Margaret’s, one south-west, 19th September.

Foreness, one east, 24th November.

1988

Dover, 26th October.

1989

Reculver, one east, 22nd November. Also seen at Foreness.

1990

Sandwich Bay, one south, 14th November.

1991

Reculver, one east, 16th June.

1993

Dungeness Bird Observatory, 20th September.

1994

North Foreland, one south, 23rd October.

1997

Dungeness Bird Observatory, 31st August.

1998

Reculver, 26th August.

Dungeness Bird Observatory, one west, 9th September.

Dungeness Bird Observatory, one west, 12th September.

2000

Dungeness Bird Observatory, one west, 5th July.

2003

Reculver, one east, 20th October.

2005

Dungeness Bird Observatory, one east, 15th April.

2011

Bockhill, single bird, 27th July.

2018

Shellness, two birds, 26th October.

Sooty Shearwater

Great Shearwater

GREAT SHEARWATER

Puffinus gravis

Rare Vagrant

1890

Ramsgate Harbour, 29th October.

1915

Dungeness Bird Observatory, 30th August.

1938

Dungeness Bird Observatory, found dead, 21st November.

1953

Lower Hope Point, 16th August.

1963

Sandwich Bay, 24th February, dead for 6-8 weeks.

1968

Foreness, 22nd October.

1990

Dungeness Bird Observatory, flying west, 27th January.

2007

Dover, seen from ferry three kilometers to south, 1st September.

2008

Dungeness Bird Observatory, single bird flew west, 2nd August.

2018

Dungeness Bird Observatory, single bird flew west, 29th March.

Manx Shearwater
Balearic Shearwater
Little Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

PIED-BILLED GREBE

Podilymbus podiceps

Rare Vagrant

1999

One at Singleton Lake, Ashford, on February 27th remained until March 23rd.

Stodmarsh, 21st January and through spring and summer, later at Grove/Preston until May 1977.

1977

Grove, 2nd January and between there and Stodmarsh until 12th March, 30th April, again 1st May to 19th June and 24th September until the end of the year. Also seen on Sheppey, 15th May, 27th August and 1st and 4th September, and at Graveney on 25th September. All same as 1975 individual.

Stodmarsh, 13th January to 29th June and 10th August to end of year; another, 28th October to end of year; Sandwich Bay, 4th may, 17th November; Swale, occasionally, 19th April to 7th October, same as 1975 individual

Stodmarsh, another, 28th October to end of year.

1980

Stodmarsh, two, 1st January to 21st May and 26th September to end of year; Elmley, 11th May to 7th September, two, 30th July 7th September, same as 1975 and 1975 individuals.

1981

Stodmarsh, two, since 1980 to end of April and from late August to end of year, summering on Sheppey, but absent during early May.

1982

Stodmarsh, two, since 1975 and 1979, to early April, 8th September and from early October to end of year, summering on Sheppey.

1983

Stodmarsh, two, since 1975 and 1979, to 6th March and from 27th-28th August and 1st September to end of year, summering on Sheppey.

1984

Stodmarsh, two, since 1975 and 1979, to 12th April and 13th October to end of year, summering on Sheppey, 14th April to 22nd July.

1985

Stodmarsh and Stour Valley area, two since 1975 and 1979, to 3rd February, one to 9th April; one 25th October to end of year; one of same, Sheppey, 6th May to 17th August.

1986

Stodmarsh and Stour Valley area, one of 1985 individuals, 1st January to 16th April, 24th October to end of year; same, Sheppey 4th June to 24th August.

Minnis Bay/Reculver, juvenile, 13th August to 10th September. Seen around Chambers Wall, Reculver and Marshside.

2001

Dungeness RSPB, 20th May.

Long Pits, Dungeness, first summer, 20th June.

2003

Capel-le-Ferne, one flew East, 13th April.

2004

Pegwell Bay, adult flew north, 22nd April.

Elmley, sub-adult, 14th-15th May.

North Foreland, immature flew west, 15th May.

Brooksend, Minnis Bay, 4th June.

Dungeness RSPB, 30th September.

2006

Bough Beech, single bird flew north, 21st April.

Dungeness, immature flew out to sea, 30th August.

2007

St. Nicholas-at-Wade, single bird few in to land, 10th June.

2008

Sandwich Bay BO, adult first seen on beach and later near observatory, 20th April.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 6th May.

2009

Reculver, single bird, arrived from south, 23rd May.

2010

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 27th-28th April, with second bird joining it on 29th-30th April. These birds were soon seen carrying nesting material, and quickly became Britain’s first successful breeding pair, fledging two young. The first bird to fledge did so on 3rd August, and the second on 6th or 7th. The last sighting of any bird was the adult female on 30th August.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 15th August, remained in Dengemarsh area until 14th December.

2010

West Hythe, single bird, 10th January, and lingered on until the end of February.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, possibly that from West Hythe, 2nd March, being recorded almost daily until 2nd October at least.

Wouldham, single bird, 10th October.

Eastwell Lake, two birds in trees, 20th October.

2011

Reculver, single bird, 2nd October.

Reculver, two individuals, 6th October.

Bilting, nr. Godmersham, single bird, 1st November.

Herne Common, single bird, 25th November.

2012

There was a minimum of four birds touring the county during January, with eight birds reported during February. In March there were possibly five birds.

Only one bird was reported during April, that from Dungeness RSPB, with only two during May. These three reports, for April and May, were probably new migrants.

There was only one record during July, with five birds reported during August.

During September there was up to five birds present in the Stour Valley, with two more in the Dungeness area.

Dungeness produced up to five birds towards the end of October, with seven birds reported from elsewhere, including that of three birds at Rodmersham.

November produced reports of up to nine birds, with up to four on Dungeness RSPB reserve on several dates to the 23rd. Five birds were found on the Dungeness RSPB during December, with two other records from elsewhere.

Overall, an estimated minimum of 15 individuals were present in the County during the year, with a possible total of 20 birds.

2013

There were many records throughout the year, but as is becoming the norm, the majority was from South during winter.

Overall there was a probable minimum of 50 individuals during the year, with a possible total as high as 70.

2014

Like recent years there were many records throughout 2014, and as usual the majority was from South during winter.

This year there was a probable minimum of 40 individuals over the period, with a possible total as high as 50.

2015

During the first winter period there were regular counts of between three and five birds at Dungeness RSPB Reserve with reports of presumably the same birds elsewhere on the peninsula. There was a maximum count there of 12 on 7th February. Away from Dungeness, single birds were seen at Conningbrook between 11th-29th, one at Shorne on the 23rd, and at Bockhill on the 30th.

Up to four birds were recorded at Dungeness throughout the spring while elsewhere in the county there was one at Pegwell-Sandwich on 8th-28thMarch, two at Chetney on the 8th, with five near Hamstreet on 10th April, one at Reculver on the 18th and one at Bough Beech on 11th-22nd.

During the summer the maximum count in the Dungeness area was two on 25th March and four at Scotney on 18th June. Elsewhere there was one at Stodmarsh from 19th- 28th May, one at South Swale on the 23rd. There was one at Bough Beech from June 9th-17th June, one at Sandwich Bay on the 12th, one at Pegwell Bay on 29th-30th July and one at Capel Fleet on 8th -22nd August.

Throughout the autumn and winter, birds were recorded at Dungeness with a maximum of 10 birds at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on 10th October. Elsewhere single birds were at Elmley on 23rd-29th September, at Reculver on 5th October and 1st November, two at Samphire Hoe on 18th October, and one at Stodmarsh from 5th November until 27th December with, presumably, the same bird being seen at Seaton on 16th November and 15th December.

2016

At Dungeness birds were present throughout the year with up to eight in the first winter period but only one or two birds during the spring and early summer.

There was an influx of birds later in the year with 12 in July, 11 in September, 16 in October, 17 in November and 13 in December.
Elsewhere in the county birds were seen periodically throughout the year at Bough Beech, on the Swale and Sheppey, in the Stour Valley and Pegwell Bay areas. Other records included sightings at Eastwell Park on 10th-15th January, at Conningbrook on 13th January and 14th December, at East Farleigh on 11th May, at Grain on 9th October and at Darenth on 29th November.

2017

The Dungeness peninsula was the most important area for this species with 15 throughout January, one or two birds summering and then an influx of ten birds in September with up to 20 birds in October, numbers then declining to 10 in November and six in December.

Elsewhere in the county there were records of single birds in the coastal wetlands of the Thames, Medway, Swale and Pegwell Bay but is unknown how many refer to the same bird. Eight birds were seen in the Stour Valley on Sept 24th and two birds were seen in Pegwell Bay. A colour ringed bird that had been ringed as a nestling in the Somerset Levels earlier in the year and seen at Sandwich on July 17th remained until mid-August giving a clue to the origin of some of these birds.

Little Egret
Gannet
Shag
Cormorant
Osprey
Honey Buzzard
Sparrowhawk

Goshawk

GOSHAWK

Accipiter gentilis

Uncommon Vagrant

pre-1792

The ornithologist Boys lists a single record prior to this year, though no further details are known.

1844

SwingfieldMinnis, single bird, shot, date unknown.

pre-1893

Lydd, single bird, shot, date unknown.

pre 1899

Fredville, adult female, shot, date unknown..

1950

Cowden, female, 7th October.

1954

Site withheld, adult, 11th September.

Another, same site, immature, 15th December.

1955

Site withheld, probably same bird as December previous year, 2nd April.

1958

Same site as 1954 and 1955, female, 11th October.

1962

Sandwich Bay, single females, 22nd April and 10th June, possibly same bird.

1965

Leysdown/Capel Hill, single bird, 25th June.

Northward Hill, 14th-21st November.

1966

High Halstow, female trapped and ringed, 20th November.

1967

Northward Hill, female, 29th January.

Northward Hill, possibly same female, three occasions between 5th February and 4th March.

1968

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 6th October.

1970

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 18th October.

1977

Reculver, female, 1st December.

1978

St. Margaret’s, single bird, 29th October.

1979

Stodmarsh, single bird, 4th April.

1980

Sandwich Bay, one in off sea, 19th October.

1982

Ightham, single bird taking Wood Pigeon, 5th November.

1983

Foreness, single bird found dead, 12th April.

Wye, single bird, picked up injured, 26th December.

1984

Shorne, single bird, 30th October.

1986

Warehorne, female, 24th April.

1988

Godmersham, single bird, 8th February.

Conningbrook, single bird, 26th February.

Foreness, single bird west, 1st April.

Seaton, single bird, 2nd November.

Dungeness, single bird west, 31st October.

1991

West recording area, site withheld, male displaying, 14th January.

St. Margaret’s, immature south-west, 16th March.

Bough Beech, female, 10th April.

Stodmarsh, single bird, 8th September.

St. Margaret’s, male, 8th October.

1992

West Malling, immature taking Blackbird, 5th March.

1994

West recording area, site withheld, throughout year. Pair probably bred.

1995

West recording area, same site as 1994 withheld, Pair throughout year. Probably bred.

With many records prior to 1952, this species would not normally be included in this list. However, as a species which causes great interest amongst birders, and with the exception of several early or late records, those records since 1952 are included here.

pre 1881

Rainham, bird shot in turnip field.

1881

Addisham, bird killed, November 30th.

1892

Maidstone, male shot, 30th December.

1906

Ashford, sample taken alive, 12th March.

1935

Sheppey, juvenile female, taken, 28th November.

1948

Deal, male, shot, 18th December.

1949

Lydd, shot, 23rd November.

1952

Dungeness, single bird, 1st September.

Dungeness, single bird, 4th September.

Warden Point, Sheppey, single bird, 7th September.

Shellness, Stour, single bird, 18th October.

1953

Allhallows, one killed, 26th April.

Dover, male trapped, June 18th.

Lower Halstow, single, 2nd-4th August.

Chilham, single, August, no date given.

Kingsnorth, nr. Ashford, one found dead, 5th October.

1954

Hacklinge, single bird, 3rd August.

St. Mary’s Bay, juvenile found dead, 18th September.

Dungeness, single bird, 2nd September.

Dungeness, single bird, 18th September.

1955

Borstal, nr. Rochester, single bird, 1st May.

Chilham, single bird, 26th August.

Dungeness, single bird, 12th August to 4th September.

1956

Sheerness, one killed, 23rd April.

Dungeness, single bird, 9th-22nd September.

New Romney, 1st winter found dead, 23rd September.

1957

Reculver, two birds in corn, 5th May.

St. Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, single bird, 6th September.

Gillingham, single bird, 9th-10th October.

1959

Gillingham, single bird, 20th and 22nd May.

Doddington, single bird, autumn, date not known.

St. Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, max. two birds, 27th September.

Westbere, single bird, autumn, date not known.

Nonington, single bird, autumn, date not known.

Sandling Park, single bird, autumn, date not known.

Dungeness, single bird, autumn, date not known.

Allhallows, single bird on shore, 5th October.

Shellness, Sheppey, single bird on shore, 6th October.

1960

Murston, single bird, 25th-30th August.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 26th August.

1961

Harty, Sheppey, heard calling, 13th-14th May.

Shadoxhurst, single bird, 5th July.

Ditton, one found with broken wing, later died, 23rd May.

Chillenden, one found dead, 29th August.

1963

Paddock Wood, single bird, 27th August.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 21st September.

1964

Alkham, single bird, 5th August.

Sandwich Bay, single birds, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, and 26th August.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 4th October.

Dungeness, single birds, 5th and 6th September.

Dungeness, three birds found dead during September.

1965

Hollingbourne, single bird, 20th April.

The Wicks, Dungeness, single bird, 9th September.

1966

Minnis Bay, single bird, 3rd September.

Dungeness, single bird, 15th September.

Dungeness, single bird, 7th October.

St. Margaret’s Bay, single bird, 21st September.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 12th October.

1967

Dungeness, single bird, 26th August.

1968

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 15th September.

1969

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 13th September.

1970

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 15th April.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 13th September.

Dungeness, one found dead by pylons, 18th September.

1971

Lydd, single bird, 19th April.

1974

Dungeness, single bird, 17th September.

1976

Swanscombe S.F., single bird, 12th September.

Pegwell Bay, single bird, 14th September.

Foreness Point, single bird, 7th November.

1977

Stodmarsh, single bird, 13th May.

Bewl Bridge, one heard calling, 29th August.

1979

Under River, Sevenoaks, one present, 12th-15th July.

1984

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 23rd May.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 16th September.

Seaton, one heard calling, 9th June.

1985

Foreness, single bird, 11th August.

Cliffe, single bird, 31st August.

1986

Broadstairs, one walked into a classroom, 9th September.

1988

Minster, Thanet, single bird, 17th April.

St. Margaret’s, single bird, 22nd September.

1989

Headcorn, single bird, 10th September.

Boughton Park, single bird, 17th September.

St. Margaret’s, single bird, 5th October.

1990

High Halstow, one found dead, 16th September.

Sandwich Bay, one flushed, 21st September.

1993

Langdon, one flushed, 28th August.

Pegwell Bay, one flushed, 28th September.

1994

Unnamed site, up to two birds heard calling, 6th June to 14th July.

1996

Abbotscliffe, single bird, 10th September.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 14th-15th September.

1997

Sandwich Bay, one flushed from riverbank, 5th September.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 24th September.

2000

Bockhill, single bird, 4th September.

Hope Point, Kingsdown, single bird, 26th September.

2002

Cranbrook, a single bird caught by a dog and released on 19th August, was caught again by the same dog on 22nd. Again, released, unharmed, this time on Walland Marsh.

2003

Cliffe Pools, single bird, 31st August, and presumably the same bird again on 11th September.

With many records prior to 1977, this species would not normally be included in this list. However, as a species which causes great interest amongst birders, those records since 1977 are included here.

1977

Worth, single bird, 4th February.

Stodmarsh, heard, 21st-22nd April.

1978

Murston, single bird, 18th February.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 10th December.

1980

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 4th April.

1982

Stodmarsh, single bird, 7th January.

Stodmarsh, another bird, 28th-29th March.

Cottington, Deal, single bird, 30th September.

Folkestone Warren, single bird, 14th November to 6th December.

1983

Stour Valley, at two localities, up to three males were seen and heard, 27th-30th April.

Stour Valley, again single birds on 4th, 7th, and 8th May.

Unnamed site, 3-4 males, present 20th May to mid-August; 2 were known to be paired, and one was seen with two partially downy young on 17th July.

Pegwell Bay, single bird, 16th December.

1987

Newington Cress Beds, one present, 30th September to 1st October.

1988

Kingsgate, single bird, 10th August.

Broomfield, single bird, 22nd October.

Dungeness, single bird, 15th October.

1989

Broomfield, single bird present, 17th-20th August.

1990

Middle Stour, single bird, 2nd February.

1992

Denton, Gravesend, single bird, 29th April to 4th May.

1994

Stodmarsh, single bird trapped, 30th August, had probably been present for at least a week beforehand.

Grove Ferry, singles recorded on nine dates in August, with two on 27th and 29th, and at least four on 31st.

Grove Ferry, up to six present during September.

Grove Ferry, single birds on 8th and 24th October.

2001

Grove Ferry, birds recorded daily between 27th August and 16th September, with juveniles reported on 27th August, two on 30th, and one on 8th September. Probably at total of six birds involved.

2002

Oare, one heard calling, 20th April.

Grove Ferry, adult, 13th-14th July.

Grove Ferry, in August a single bird on 3rd August, with four present on 4th, and singles on 5th and 6th. Further singles on 18th-21st, two on 23rd, and four on 24th.

Grove Ferry, into September, and there sighting of one to three birds on most days, until the final two were seen on 12th. Probably a minimum of eight birds present.

2003

Grove Ferry, singles recorded 10th-18th July, and 10th-31st August, with two on 24th. A single bird occurred on 12th September. It is probable that four individual birds were involved.

2004

Oare, juvenile, 7th August.

Grove Ferry, at least four individuals, 4th-19th September.

Grove Ferry, another present, 2nd-6th October.

2005

Grove Ferry, single bird seen, 12th April.

Grove Ferry, as many as six individual birds, 7th July to 18th September.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird present, 20th August to 2nd September.

2006

Grove Ferry, at least two birds seen, adult and juvenile, between 12th August and 14th September.

2007

Grove Ferry, single bird seen, 2nd April.

Grove Ferry, another heard, 29th April until 1st May.

Grove Ferry, at least one juvenile present, 8th-12th September.

2008

Alder Wood, Stodmarsh, single bird, 30th March.

Grove Ferry, single bird, 14th June.

Oare Marshes, single bird, 16th August to 20th September.

2009

Grove Ferry, single bird seen, 20th-26th August, with two on 22nd.

Dungeness, ARC pits, single bird, 6th-16th September.

2010

Grove Ferry, single bird, 10th-22nd August, with two on 18th.

2013

Grove Ferry, single bird seen, 24th August to 6th September, with a second bird from 28th-31st August.

Cliffe Pools, single bird, 8th-9th September.

Oare Marshes, single bird from 9th September to 12th October, with a second briefly on 1st October.

2014

Westbere Marshes, single singing bird, 15th April.

Grove Ferry, single singing bird, 18th-27th April.

Grove Ferry, two singing birds, 4th-5th May.

2015

Grove Ferry, single bird singing, 27th-30th May.

2016

Cliffe Pools, single bird seen and heard, 14th-21st August.

2017

Stodmarsh NNR, single bird, 27th August.

Moorhen
Coot

American Coot

AMERICAN COOT

Fulica americana

Rare Vagrant

1996

Stodmarsh, possibly first-summer, 16th-29th or 30th April.

Common Crane

Stone-curlew

STONE-CURLEW

Burhinus oedicnemus

Bred regularly until 1965, now rare migrant

Once a common breeder, by the end of the nineteenth century it was reduced to five pairs or fewer. By the turn of the century parties of 40 in 1902 and 71 in 1905 at Dungeness were no longer exceptional. Again began a slow decline, until the last recorded breeding, at Dungeness in 1965.

With many records prior to 1952, this species would not normally be included in this list. However, as a species which causes great interest amongst birders records since 1952 are included here.

1952

Dungeness RSPB, 5 pairs, with a further 2 pairs off the reserve; some bred successfully.

1953

Dungeness RSPB, six pairs bred with possibly another. Two further pairs also bred just outside the reserve.

Farthingloe, single bird flushed, 18th May.

Slayhills Saltings, Medway, single bird seen in flight, 19th August.

1954

Dungeness, 8 breeding pairs included 6 pairs on RSPB reserve.

Stour Valley, Wye, single bird heard, 25th April.

Tonbridge, 3 birds seen to land in field at 21.30hrs, before flying North.

1955

Dungeness RSPB, had 6 pairs of which 2 pairs bred successfully.

Thanet, one heard calling on night of 13th April.

Manston, immature found dead in road, 10th October.

1956

Dungeness, 7 pairs in breeding season, 1st April to 13th November.

1957

Dungeness, 7 pairs in breeding season, with 2 successful. One of ringed young shot in Spain in October.

Dungeness RSPB, a flock of 10 birds arrived on the 10th April, but only one was present on 25th, two on 36th-27th, with one lingering on from 28th until24th May.

Sandwich Bay, adult male, 2nd May.

Scotney GP, male and female, 14th May.

Cliffe Pools, four birds, 15th May. Two remained and it was confirmed on 22nd May that they had a nest and eggs. The first confirmed breeding in Kent. The first chick was seen on 13th June, with four eventually hatching. Unfortunately all were predated, and the adults soon moved on, the last being seen on 17th June.

For the third year in succession, birds made breeding attempts at Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve and Higham Marshes RSPB Reserve, and accounted for all reports this year. The first record was of a female on 13th April, which was followed by the arrival of a pair on the 17th, and a fourth bird the next day. Although two birds soon departed, a remaining pair was joined by another four birds on the 22nd, which included a male and three females. Photographs revealed that the two males were returning birds from 2015. Subsequently three pairs made breeding attempts. On 10th May, seven birds were present, the three breeding pairs and an unpaired, probably immature female. Of the three nests at Cliffe, two were in a protected area but one failed due to the removal of eggs from the nest by a male Stilt. The third nest was outside the protected area and failed due to egg predation, probably by a Red Fox. The two eggs from the remaining nest successfully hatched but the two chicks died during separate periods of torrential rain.
Remarkably, one of the earlier failed pairs re-nested nearby at Higham Marshes RSPB Reserve, but the eggs were predated by a group of Carrion Crows just 2-3 days before the eggs were expected to hatch. The last record was of two birds at Higham on 17th July.

2017

For the fourth year in succession birds made breeding attempts in Kent, this year successfully. The first record was of an adult male at Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve on 31st March, the earliest recorded date for the county and first March record. A pair was present the next day which was joined by a further adult male from 6th April. After several local movements of these birds including a pair moving briefly to Vange Marshes RSPB Reserve in Essex, where a nesting pair was present which failed at the egg stage on 7th May; two pairs settled back at Cliffe from 9th, including the failed Essex pair. Nesting of both pairs commenced from 17th-18th May and eventually four young hatched from each nest during 11th-13th June. One of the adult males disappeared in the last week of June but the female successfully fledged all four young. The other pair lost one chick but successfully fledged the remaining three young. Thus, two pairs bred successfully and fledged a total of seven young. Ten birds remained at Cliffe until 1st August at least, after which a gradual dispersal took place with the pair and three juveniles departing to leave the female and four juveniles. The female was last seen on 10th August leaving the four juveniles of which two remained until 25th August, the last date that this species was observed in the county.
Away from Cliffe there were two at Elmley on 10th and 29th April, three at Northward Hill RSPB on 14th May, two at The Midrips on 2nd June and three at Riverside Country Park on 23rd August. It is likely that the Elmley and Northward Hill records involved the Cliffe birds, wandering before settling to breed, whilst the birds at Riverside Country Park were three juveniles dispersing from Cliffe.

2018

Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry, single bird, 12th-14th April.

Cliffe Pools, single bird, 29th April and 26th May.

Oare Marshes, single bird, 4th June.

Sandwich Bay, four birds, 17th-18th June.

Sheppey, two adults and two juveniles, successfully bred, May to June.

Oare Marshes, two adults and two juveniles, 5th-19th May.

2019

Dungeness RSPB, two birds, 20th-24th April.

No Longer Accepted

1913

Romney Marsh, immature female, 15th September; immature male 20th.

Avocet
Lapwing

Sociable Plover

SOCIABLE PLOVER

Vanellus gregarius

Rare Vagrant

1968

Westwell, 12th April.

Worth Marshes, 28th September to 18th November.

1979

Headcorn, first-winter, 15th-21st December.

1985

DartfordMarshes, 8th March to 13th April.

1998

Graveney and Nagden Marshes, 8th-19th October.

Capel Fleet, 10th October to 1st November.

2007

Grove Ferry, first-winter, 21st December.

No Longer Accepted

1907

Romney Marsh, six, immature female shot, 3rd May.

White-tailed Plover

White-tailed Plover

Vanellus leucorus

Rare Vagrant

2010

Dungeness, ARC pits, adult, 11th-21st July, was a first for Kent.

Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER

Pluvialis fulva

Rare Vagrant

1978

Westbere, adult, 18th June.

1990

Sandwich Bay, adult, 20th-22nd June.

1995

Elmley, adult, 17th-31st August.

2009

Cliffe Pools, single adult, 8th July.

No Longer Accepted

1915

Romney Marsh, male, female, and at least four others, 20th September.

American/Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica/fulva

1984

Oakhamness Island, Medway, adult, 22nd-23rd July.

1985

Elmley, adult, 6th July.

1992

Dungeness, adult, 9th and 12th July.

1997

Pegwell Bay, adult, 12th June.

2000

Yantlet Creek, adult 8th May.

American Golden Plover

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER

Pluvialis dominica

Rare Vagrant

1978

Grove Ferry, 29th April to 2nd May.

1982

Elmley, adult, 16th-29th May.

1987

Dungeness, first-summer, 10th-15th May.

2008

Pegwell Bay, summer plumaged bird, 1st-5th June.

Elmley RSPB, possibly same bird as previous record, 30th July to 4th September, shows at Conyer on 16th August.

2015

Scotney GP, a single bird on 12th February, was originally located amongst a flock of Golden Plover at the East Sussex end of the pit.

2018

Oare Marshes, single bird, 23rd-26th October.

2019

Oare Marshes/Shellness, single bird, 7th September until 12th October.

Dungeness area, a total of thirty-seven birds recorded in December, with peaks of six birds on RSPB reserve on both 2nd and 16th December.

Scotney, two birds, 4th December.

2006

Dungeness area, a peak of five first-winters, 11th January.

Dungeness Observatory, bird bearing a Polish colour ring, first ringed at Wloclawek on 18th May 2004, was present on 3rd February.

Dungeness Reserve, adult, 21st March.

ARC Pits, first-winter, 13th April.

Dungeness area, returning birds of various ages were recorded from 17th August.

ARC Pits, a peak of three first-winters, 26th November.

Dungeness Observatory, three second-winters, 11th December.

ARC Pits, first-winter, 13th April.

Littlebrook, five birds of varying ages, seen during December.

2007

Dungeness Observatory, a second-winter on 14th January, a third- winter on 23rd January, a first-winter on 6th March, and a first-winter on 2nd April were the only birds in the first half of the year.

Dungeness Observatory, a juvenile/first-winter on 9th September, a juvenile/first-winter on 10th September, two first-winters on 30th September, a first-winter on 20th October, a first-winter on 22nd October, a first-winter on 6th November, a first- and a second-winter on 18th November, a first-winter on 28th November, a first-winter on 13th December, a fourth-winter on each of 18th and 19th December, and a third-winter on 19th December completed the year.

Dungeness Reserve, a total 65 reports occurred of birds of various ages between 31st January and 20th December. Refer to KOS Bird Report for full details.

North Quarry, Cliffe, an adult bird present, 1st December.

2008

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 6th January.

Dungeness RSPB, first-winter, 13th January.

Dungeness Observatory, two birds, a first-winter and a fourth-winter, 14th February.

Dungeness RSPB, third-winter, 14th February.

Dungeness RSPB, first-winter, 16th February.

Dungeness RSPB, three birds, 21st February.

Dungeness RSPB, third-winter, 3rd March.

Dungeness RSPB, second-winter, 7th March.

Dungeness RSPB, three birds, 8th March.

Dungeness Observatory, four first-winter birds, 9th March.

Pegwell Bay, first-winter, 14th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first-winter, 19th March.

Dungeness Observatory, third-winter bird, 28th March.

Dungeness Observatory, two first-winter birds, 30th March.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 4th April.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 19th May.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 30th September.

Dungeness Observatory, adult and first-winter, 16th October.

Thames, Dartford, adult, 7th November.

Pegwell Bay, three first-winters, 19th November to 14th December.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 20th November.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 21st November.

Dungeness Observatory, third-winter, 22nd November.

Otford, third-winter, 22nd November.

Dungeness RSPB, three adults, 23rd November.

Dungeness RSPB, two adults, 26th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 27th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 5th December.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 14th December.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 20th December.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 20th December.

Pegwell Bay, three adults, 28th-29th December.

2009

Dungeness Observatory, third winter, 1st January.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 3rd January.

Dungeness RSPB, third winter, 13th January.

Dungeness RSPB, another third winter, 15th January.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 16th January.

Dungeness RSPB, adult and two second winters, 18th January.

Dungeness Observatory, second winter, 20th January.

Dungeness Observatory, a different second winter, 22nd January.

Dungeness Observatory, another second winter, 26th January.

Dungeness Observatory, two adults, 27th January.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 31st January.

Dungeness Observatory, third winter, 1st February.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 2nd February.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 3rd February.

Dungeness RSPB, adult and third or fourth winter, 3rd February.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 9th-10th February.

Dartford Marshes, third winter, photographed 15th February. The only record away from the Dungeness area this year.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 17th February.

Dungeness Observatory, fourth winter, 24th February.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 26th February.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 26th February.

Dungeness RSPB, another first winter, 28th February.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 4th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 6th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first and second winter birds, 7th March.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 9th March.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 12th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 14th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 17th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first and third winter birds, 20th March.

Dungeness RSPB, three first winter birds and an adult, 21st March.

Dungeness RSPB, third winter, 3rd April.

Dungeness RSPB, juvenile, 12th September.

Dungeness Observatory, second winter, 4th October.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 11th October.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 11th October.

Dungeness Observatory, another first winter, 17th October.

Dungeness Observatory, second winter, 23rd October.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 23rd October.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter and adult, 27th October.

Dungeness RSPB, fourth winter, 29th October.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 1st November.

Dungeness RSPB, first and third winter birds, 6th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 10th November.

Dungeness RSPB, another adult, 11th-12th November.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 12th November.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 14th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 22nd November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 29th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 2nd December.

Dungeness RSPB, another adult, 3rd December.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 17th December.

Dungeness RSPB, third winter, 23rd December.

Dungeness Observatory, fourth winter, 23rd December.

2010

The main concentration of records was from the Dungeness area with up to 17 birds recorded at Dungeness BO and a further 18 recorded from the nearby RSPB Reserve during the year.

In January, there was a 3rd winter bird on the Reserve on the 13th, an adult there on the 14th and an adult in the observatory recording area on the 23rd. In February, a 3rd winter was on the Reserve on the 2nd, a 1st winter and a 3rd winter were in the observatory recording area on the 4th, a 3rd winter was on the Reserve on the 5th and a 1st winter was seen there on the 8th with another 1st winter nearby in the observatory recording area on that date. A 2ndwinter bird was on Reserve on the 16th and a 3rd winter there on the 22nd. In March, the Reserve had a 3rd winter on the 22nd and a 1st winter on the 28th.

The following birds were then seen in the observatory recording area during the summer: a 2nd summer on May 2nd, a 1st summer on May 29th and another on May 31st, single juveniles recorded on July 14th and Aug 17th and an adult on Aug 25th. September records were all from the observatory recording area once again with a 2nd winter on the 15th, a 1st winter and a 2nd winter on the 16th, a 3rd winter on the 18th and single adults on the 27th and the 31st. October and November records were all from the Reserve with an adult on Oct 19th, another adult on Oct 23rd, a 1st winter on Nov 28th and an adult on Nov 29th. In December, single adults were on the Reserve on the 5th and on the 22nd, an adult was in the observatory recording area on the 24th, with a first winter there on the 26th and a 3rd winter and two adults there on the 28th. Two adults were on the Reserve on Dec 30th and separate 2nd winters were recorded on the Reserve and in the observatory recording area on the 31st.

Away from Dungeness, there was one at Swanscombe on Jan 1st an adult and a 1st winter were feeding at the Viridor recycling centre in Crayford, Greater London, on the 31st and were both seen to fly into Kent. In February, two first winters were on the Thames foreshore at Dartford on the 25th. In October, a 2nd winter was on the pools on Swanscombe peninsula on the 31st.

2011

Hythe, single bird, 14th December.

2012

Records were once again concentrated at Dungeness with six records from the Dungeness peninsula and 17 from the Dungeness RSPB Reserve. The popular 1st W that had arrived on Dec 8th 2011 lingered until Jan 27th. Also in January, a 2nd W was by the fishing boats on the 5th. Three birds were recorded on the Reserve in February with an adult and a 2nd W there on the 10th and another 2nd W there on the 16th. In March, there was an adult and a 1st W on the Reserve on the 5th, a 3rd W and a 2nd W also there on the 6th as was a 2nd W on the 8th. There was a 2nd W by the fishing boats on the 15th. On Apr 17th, there was a 1st W on the Reserve. During the second winter period, there was a 1st W on the Point on Sept 25th, an adult on them Reserve on Oct 16th-18th, and an adult on the Reserve on the 26th with it or another by the fishing boats also on that date and a 3rd W on the Point on Nov 20th. The final six birds in December were all on the Reserve with an adult there on the 4th-5th, a 1st W there on the 6th, an adult there on the 12th, two 2nd W birds there on the 16th and an adult there on the 17th.

Away from Dungeness, there were five accepted records. A 1st W came to bread.

Greenhithe on Mar 18th, a 1st S was on Dartford Marshes on Apr 1st with another there on the 9th, a 1st W on the Thames foreshore at Dartford Marshes on Nov 24th and an adult at Folkestone on Nov 27th with the latter bird being identified as the same bird that was present at Dartford from Feb 3rd-Mar 19th 2011.

2013

The first bird of the year was a 3rd winter at Kerton Rd, Dungeness, on Jan 6th. A 2nd winter was seen infrequently on Dartford Marshes from Jan 13th-Mar 29th and was also seen coming to bread on Mar 23rd at Greenhithe. A 1st winter was seen on Dartford Marshes on Jan 26th with a 3rd winter there on Jan 31st and again on Feb 22nd. In March, there was one at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on the 3rd, a 3rd winter at Dungeness BO on the 10th and a 1st winter there on the 18th. The last bird to be recorded in the first half of the year was a 3rd winter at Dungeness BO on Apr 6th-7th.

In August, juveniles were seen from the fishing boats at Dungeness on the 18th and on the 31st and in September, a 2nd winter was seen there on the 15th and again on the 28th. In October, a 1st winter was at Dungeness BO on the 6th. In November, a 1st winter was at Dungeness BO on the 3rd, one was recorded nearby on the RSPB Reserve on the 17th and one was at Dungeness BO on the 30th. A 1st winter was seen in Dartford on Nov 30th and another 1st winter was also there on Dec 1st with both birds being seen on several occasions up to Dec 25th along with another 1st winter there on the 21st. All other December records were from Dungeness with an adult on the Reserve on the 7th, a 1st winter and a 2nd winter at the Observatory on the 8th with the 1st winter remaining until the end of the year. There was one on the Reserve on the 13th. An adult was at the Observatory on the 16th with another adult and a 1st winter there the next day and three new 1st winters there on the 19th. On the 22nd, there were two new 2nd winters at the Observatory with both remaining until the 23rd when they were joined by two more birds. On the 28th, there were a remarkable 11 individuals with 10 of these being seen between the fishing boats and the Lifeboat station (five 1st winters and five 2nd winters) and an adult on ARC and this count was the highest day total for this species in Great Britain to date. The last two of the year were also at the Observatory on the 31st.

2014

There were 100 individual birds recorded from the Dungeness BO recording area with two more recorded on the RSPB Reserve. The following records are from the recording area unless stated otherwise: In January there were 6 birds on the 1st, 4 on each of 7th and 8th, and 5 on the 27th. 1st winter birds were present on the 6th (3 No.), 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st (3 No.), 25th and 28th; single 2nd winter birds on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th-9th, 6th, and 12th, with two birds on the 4th; a 3rd winter on the 6th and 18th and an adult, also on the 18th. Then in February there were 1st winter birds on the 8th, 14th, 21st and 22nd; 2nd winters on the 22nd and 23rd; a 3rd winter on the 3rd, whilst there has been an adult on the 1st. Whilst in March there were two 1st winters on the 3rd followed by further singles on the 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 24th.

In April, there were three 1st winter birds, on the 5th, 6th and another on the 9th.

The first juveniles of the autumn were two on Aug 17th, with singles on Aug 24th and 25th. In September, there was one on the Reserve on the 6th, a 1st winter lingered around the fishing boats from 12th-14th and another there on 21st-22nd. Whilst in October, there were 1st winter birds on the 4th, 6th, 16th, 18th and 21st; a 2nd winter on the 5th, a 3rd winter birds on the 12th, alongside an Audouin’s Gull, and on the 19th. There was a 1st winter and 2nd winter on Nov 2nd along with two more birds on the Reserve and an adult on the Reserve on Nov 16th. During December, there were three 1st winters on the 10th, four on the 4th, another on the 12th, two on the 13th, one on the 14th, one on the Reserve on the 17th, two on the 21st and one on the 23rd, with another feeding offshore along with a 3rd winter by the fishing boats on the 28th.

The following records were seen away from Dungeness: On Dartford Marshes, a 1st winter first seen in December 2013 continued to be seen intermittently until Mar 23rd. A returning colour-ringed adult that had been seen on Dartford Marshes in 2010 & 2012 was seen on Jan 23rd. Up to six birds, including two adults, were seen in Pegwell Bay during January and on Jan 26th a colour ringed 1st winter was seen on Dartford Marshes. A 1st winter was seen on the Thames off Dartford Marshes on Jan 26th. In February, there were three records from Dartford Marshes with a 1st winter on the 2nd and adults on the 5th and on the 11th. In March, there was a 1st winter on Dartford Marshes on the 30th. In the latter half of the year, a 1st winter was on the Thames foreshore, Dartford Marshes, on Oct 18th. Two 1st winters and two adults were in Pegwell Bay on Nov 29th-30th, one 1st winter and two adults lingering through December, and a 1st winter was in Folkestone Harbour on Dec 1st. A 3rd winter was on Dartford Marshes on Dec 14th. A 1st winter was at Ramsgate on Dec 19th. On Dartford Marshes, there was a 1st winter on Dec 21st, a 1st winter and a 2nd winter on the 29th with both those birds remaining there until the next day when they were joined by another 2nd winter.

2015

At Dungeness an estimated 78 individual birds were seen during the year, 29 during the first four months and 49 in the last four. In January there were nine 2nd year birds, in February two 2nd year, two 3rd and one 4th year, in March 10 2nd year and two 4th year and in April two 2nd year and one 3rd. In September there were one 1st year and one 2nd, in October eight 1st year and three 2nd, in November 14 1st year, two 2nd, two 3rd year and four adults, in December six 1st year, three 2nd , one 3rd year and four adults. On the Reserve there was a 1st winter on Jan 17th, one on Feb 14th and a 1st winter on Mar 28th. In the last months of the year there was a 2nd winter and two 1st winter on Oct 25th and an adult on the 29th, an adult and two 1st winter at Scotney on Nov 23rd while, in December, there were up to three birds on 13 days and also an adult at Lade on the 20th.

Away from Dungeness there was a single at Pegwell Bay on Jan 1st-2nd, one at Harty on the 1st that lingered in the area until at least Mar 3rd, two adults and a 1st winter at Dartford Marshes on Jan 3rd and two at Pegwell Bay on the 15th (PM). In February there was a 1st winter at Dartford on the 7th and in March a 3rd year at Greenhithe on the 7th and 15th, a 1st winter at Cliftonville on the 16th and a 1st summer at Dartford Marsh on May 31st. In the latter part of the year there was a 1st winter at Reculver on Sept 21st, one at Pegwell Bay from Dec 2nd-9th and two at Dartford Marshes on the 3rd.

2016

In the first five months of the year birds were seen at Dungeness with the latest being reported on 31st May. The peak day count was of three birds on 29th January. At Sandwich Bay/Pegwell birds were also present on a variety of dates in January and February with a peak of three birds on 8th February. In the same months at Dartford Marshes there were birds present on many dates with a peak count of 14 on 10th January. At the same site 2 birds were recorded on 27th February and a first-winter bird on 20th March.

Away from these strongholds records were submitted of two first-winter birds at Stodmarsh on 31st January, a first-winter bird at Herne Bay on 1st February, a first-winter bird at New Hythe GP on 23rd February.
In the second five months of the year birds were seen at Dungeness during every month from 8th August rising to day peaks of six birds on 17th November and seven birds on 21st December. At Sandwich/Pegwell Bay records commenced with a second-winter bird at New Downs on 21st August, and November sightings peaked with six on the 11th. December records included a first-winter bird at Pegwell Bay on the 10th and peaked at 10 on 12th December.

Away from the main sites a second-winter bird was recorded at Hythe Beach on 26th November, with a first-winter recorded at Folkestone Harbour on 19th December.

2017

At Dungeness, the stronghold for this species, birds mainly 1st and 2nd years were recorded at the Point from 21st January to 11th April with a peak of five on 30th January and a total of 88 bird/days. At the RSPB Reserve there were four individuals in January, seven in February and six in March. At Sandwich/Pegwell in January a first winter was seen on the 5th, an adult on the 16th and 26th. Possibly the same bird was present in February from the 1st-3rd. At least five singles were seen until Apr 20th.

Away from the two main sites there was a first winter at Ramsgate Harbour on 1st January.

At Dungeness Point in the last four months from 10th September until the year end there was a total of 49 bird/days. On the RSPB Reserve there were circa 73 individuals from 10th November until 31st December with eight on 22nd November and 10 on 6th December. At Pegwell in November there were several singles with a peak of four between the 20th and 23rd.

Elsewhere in December there was an adult at Folkstone Harbour on the 2nd, at Lade a first winter on the 5th and an adult on the 18th and at Dartford another adult on the 28th.

2018

Sevenoaks WR, first-winter, 2nd-3rd November and 14th December.

Nicholl’s Quarry, Hythe, two birds, 15th and 28th December.

2019

Sevenoaks WR, first-winter, 28th February until 13th March.

Yellow-legged Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull

Gull-billed Tern

GULL-BILLED TERN

Gelochelidon nilotica

Rare Vagrant

pre-1824

Near Sandwich, no date.

1839

Lydd, killed, June.

1862

RomneyMarsh, 12th September.

ca.1886

Near Whitstable, shot, possibly 1887.

1940

East Kent, no locality, 25th April.

1954

Hacklinge, adult, 9th August.

1955

Dungeness, single bird, 13th August.

1956

Dungeness, two, 13th August.

The Midrips/Wicks area, nr. Dungeness, two, 3rd September.

1957

Dungeness, three, 25th May.

1958

Dungeness, 2nd May.

1960

Near Deal, single bird, 10th June.

Reculver, single bird, 11th-16th June.

Dungeness, three, 19th June.

Dungeness, 17th September.

Shellness, Sheppey, 1st October.

1962

Stour Estuary, 7th May.

Sandwich Bay, 21st, 26th, 27th, and 29th August.

Sandwich Bay, 2nd-4th September.

1963

Dungeness, 25th-26th April.

Dungeness, four, 26th June, and three, 27th June.

1964

Stodmarsh, 22nd August.

Dungeness, two, 22nd August.

1965

Sandwich Bay, 1st May.

1967

Dungeness, 4th August.

Sandwich Bay, 15th-16th August.

Dungeness, 29th August.

1968

Shellness, Sheppey, 5th September.

1971

Dungeness, two, 9th July.

1973

Sandwich and Pegwell Bays, 16th August.

1975

Allhallows, 4th October.

1978

Sandwich Bay, 18th May.

1979

Dungeness, 31st July.

1980

Dungeness, 28th July.

1983

Pegwell Bay, 8th June.

1986

Sandwich Bay, 16th July.

2000

Yantlet Creek, 5th May.

2005

Dungeness, second year, 4th, 6th-7th, and 9th-16th May. Presumed same as East Sussex 7th May.

2006

Dungeness Reserve, adult, 25th May.

2016

Dungeness Reserve, adult, 22nd May.

Caspian Tern

CASPIAN TERN

Sterna caspia

Rare Vagrant

1935

Dungeness, immature female, hit lighthouse, 9th October.

Near Deal, 15th November.

1954

Mote Park, Maidstone, 3rd-4th May.

1966

Stodmarsh, 12th June.

1969

Sandwich Bay, 27th July.

1971

Kingsdown, Deal, 19th April.

1975

Reculver, 1st June.

1976

Dover, adult, 6th May.

Dungeness, adult, 18th May.

1977

Sandwich Bay, two, possibly three, 3rd June.

Margate, two, 16th June.

1978

Lade, Dungeness, 3rd June.

1980

Pegwell Bay, 24th July.

1981

Stodmarsh, 6th August.

1984

Dungeness, 29th May.

1985

Sea area Dover, 6th August.

1988

Folkestone Warren, 5th June.

Dungeness, 17th-18th June.

1990

Dungeness, 15th July.

1995

Bough Beech Reservoir, 30th April.

1996

Stodmarsh and Hersden, 15th June.

1997

Pegwell Bay and Stodmarsh, 1st-2nd August.

1999

Oare Marshes, 11th July.

2013

Bockhill, one flew down channel, 5th August.

2014

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 6th August.

No longer accepted

1985

Sea area Dover, one seen about 20 minutes out of Dover, 6th August.

Lesser Crested Tern

LESSER CRESTED TERN

Sterna bengalensis

Rare Vagrant

1989

Dungeness, 6th May, presumed same as Northumberland bird, also in Sussex.

taken some time prior to 1844. Specimen, from Plomley collection, now lost.

Kingfisher

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER

Merops superciliosus

Rare Vagrant

1989

Church Hougham, single bird flew over, 18th July. Presumably same bird as adult at Cowden, East Yorkshire, from 8th-10th July, and then seen flying south over Leverton Marsh on 12 July.

2009

Bockhill, adult, 22nd July.

Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Rare but fairly regular vagrant

1827

Kingsgate, Thanet, one shot, May.

pre-1884

Lydd, adult, shot. Exact date unknown. Bird now in Dover Museum.

1882

Mereworth, near Wrotham, adult, 24th June.

1953

Sevenoaks, seen in flight, 15th May.

1955

Sandwich Bay Estate, one present, 6th June.

St. Mary’s Bay, Dymchurch, flock of ca.12, 25th-26th September. These birds are believed to originate from the East Sussex breeding colony, where 13 birds were seen to fly east from the previous day, and were not to return.

1958

Betteshanger, single bird, 11th July.

1969

Sandwich Bay, one hawking insects, 25th May.

1971

Dungeness, one flew south-east over Channel, 8th June.

1974

Dungeness, singles on 19th May and 7th August.

1978

Dungeness, one flew over, 21st May.

1979

St. Margaret’s, one flew south-east out to sea, 19th May.

Iwade, single bird, 3rd July.

1981

Westcliffe, Ramsgate, one present, 13th June.

Kingsgate, single bird, 16th June.

1986

Dungeness, one in off sea, 16th May.

Dungeness, one flew north-west, 7th June.

1987

Walmer, party of six birds, watched for two hours, 20th June.

Foreness, one flew west, 5th July.

1988

Dungeness, one seen on 13th June, with another on 6th September.

1989

Foreness, single bird, 24th May.

St. Margaret’s, a party of five birds flew up-channel, 28th May, and presumed same, four flew south at Sandwich Bay on 29th.

1990

Foreness, one flew west, 16th May.

1991

Dungeness, 4-6 birds present, 31st May.

Kingsdown, two birds flew north, 29th June.

Probably same two birds flew west, Reculver, an hour and a half later.

Littlestone, single bird, 3rd July.

Colney Hill, Dover, four flew east, 14th July.

Sandwich Bay, one flew west, 14th July.

Dungeness, five present on 27th July, with another on 1st August.

Walderslade, four flew over, 24th August.

1992

Sandwich Bay, one present, 11th May.

Foreness, one flew south, 20th May.

1993

Foreness, one flew west, 19th May.

St. Margaret’s, one north, 2nd June.

Dungeness, one flew north-west, 5th June.

1995

Whitstable, one east, 13th September.

1997

St. Margaret’s, one flew past, 9th May.

Birchington, six birds frequented Quex Park, 15th-16th May.

Dungeness, single bird, 25th May.

St. Margaret’s, single bird, 29th-30th May.

Bockhill, single bird, 12th August.

Dungeness, single bird, 8th September.

1998

Dungeness, single bird present, 23rd May.

Pegwell Bay, single bird, 10th June.

1999

West Stourmouth, four birds present, 10th May.

Capel-le-Ferne, one present, 16th May.

Deal, single bird, 12th June.

Dungeness, single bird, 12th July.

2001

Capel-le-Ferne, one present, 25th May.

St. Margaret’s, single bird west, 31st May.

2002

Dungeness, single bird, 9th May.

Bockhill, single bird, 31st May.

St. Margaret’s, single bird, 20th June, and again later at Bockhill.

Rye Street, single bird, 28th June.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 15th July.

Kingsdown, single bird, 4th September.

2003

Dungeness RSPB, single bird present, 6th July.

Shuart Farm, St. Nicholas-at-Wade, single bird, 13th July.

Kingsdown, one south, 22nd July.

2004

Dungeness, party of five adults flew over, 16th May. Later tracked via St. Margaret’s, Bockhill, and Kingsdown to Sandwich Bay.

Nested in the county at Dover Cliffs until sometime between the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries (Ticehurst: A History of the Birds of Kent).

Then sometime before the end of the eighteenth century, the cliffs were repopulated by an escaped pair, originally from Cornwall. This pair gave rise to a colony which survived until sometime between 1840 and 1850.

This species appears in the Canterbury City coat-of-arms.

Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow

Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

Corvus cornix

Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor

The BOU took the decision in 2002 to split Hooded Crow from Carrion Crow, Corvus corone. With over 200 records in Kent to date, those records shown here are only representative since that split.

2003

Swale area, single bird, from 6th October to year end. First seen at Swale NNR, and then often both north and south of the Swale.

Nether Hale, single bird, 27th November.

2004

The over-wintering bird on the Swale N.N.R., was joined by a second bird between 8th January and 7th March. One remained until 16th March.

Whitstable, single bird, 7th January, was probably one of the Swale birds.

Nether Hale, single bird, 27th November, was probably the same returning from 2003.

Swale, the now regular wintering bird returned from 17th November, until the year end.

2005

Swale, the regular wintering bird remained until 25th March, with a second bird present on east Sheppey from 21st-31st January.

Nether Hale, single bird, presumed to be the same throughout was present on 12th and 23rd January, and on 7th March.

Foreness, one present 18th-19th March.

Bishopstone, one flew east, 5th April.

Harty Marshes, what was presumably the returning Swale bird, was present from 10th-17th December.

2006

Swale, presumably the same regular wintering bird remained until 11th March.

Swale, single bird present, 20th November until 15th December.

Seasalter, two birds, 2nd December.

2007

Swale, one possibly two birds, remained on SE Sheppey until at least 4th March.

Seasalter, briefly, 7th January.

Sackett’s Hill, Margate, single bird, 26th July.

Swale NNR, presumably the same regular wintering bird returned on 30th November.

2008

East Sheppey, various sites, single bird, presumably from winter 2007, until 4th March.

East Sheppey, presumably the same regular wintering bird returned on 8th December.

2009

East Sheppey, various sites, single bird, presumably from winter 2008, until 16th March.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, possibly East Sheppey bird, 24th March.

East Sheppey, presumably the same regular wintering bird returned on 16th December.

2010

Swale NNR, single bird, 7th February, was almost certainly the same bird as December 2009.

Dungeness, single bird, 1st April.

Dungeness, single bird, 21st October.

Reculver/Minnis, two birds, 28th October, one staying until end of year.

2012

Abbotscliffe and Aycliffe, single bird, 12th May.

Dungeness, presumed same bird, 13th May.

2013

Swale NNR, single bird, 23rdJanuary until 23rd March.

Swale NNR, possibly same bird, 19th December.

2014

East Sheppey, the regular bird lingered around from December 2013 until at least Jan 24th.

Seasalter, single bird, 5th March.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 12th-13th April.

Dungeness BO, single bird, 3rd May.

East Sheppey, the regular bird re-appeared on 30th November and remained in the area until the end of the year.

2015

East Sheppey, the regular bird lingered around from December 2013 until at least 3rdMarch, re-appearing again from 28thDecember into 2016.

2016

East Sheppey, the regular bird lingered around from December 2015 until at least 4th March, re-appearing again on 11th December.

Seasalter, single bird, 17th March.

Foreness, single bird, 26th March.

Dungeness, single bird, 3rd-7th April.

Abbotscliffe, single bird, 23rd April.

Foreness, single bird, 1st May.

Halling, single bird, 23rd-30th August.

Manston, single bird, 23rd October.

2017

Harty Ferry, single bird, 11th January.

Seasalter, single bird, 10th March.

Cliftonville, single bird, 11th March.

Sheppey, single bird, 18th-30th December.

2018

East Sheppey and Seasalter, this regular bird lingered around from the beginning of January until 9th March.

Bockhill, single bird, 26th March.

2019

Reculver Marshes, single bird, 24th- 26th January.

Dungeness/Lade, single bird, 25th February.

Raven

Raven

Corvus corax

Rare visitor, formerly bred. Status clouded by escapes.

Nested in the county until the late nineteenth century, when there were three nests between Folkestone and Dover in 1890. The origins of the occasional record of this species must always be in doubt as it is a favourite species with aviculturalists, and has escaped and even been released on a number of occasions. The westward spread of this bird on the Continent continues. Records here begin from the first Kent Bird Report in 1952.

1957

Cliffe, single bird, low overhead, 8th March.

1959

Warden, Sheppey, single bird, 8th November.

1960

Sevenoaks, two birds flew west, 2nd July.

Lydd, single bird, 3rd May.

1963

Northward Hill, single birds seen on 3rd March, and another on 29th December.

1965

Northward Hill, two birds on 3rd January, and a single on 21st February.

Bough Beech, two birds over, 3rd August, and presumably the same pair over the nearby Winkhurst Wood, 5th August.

1997

Dungeness, many sightings between 16th January and 5th April, probably relate to two or three individuals.

1998

Dungeness, single bird present, 3rd February until 21st April.

2001

Blean Woods, two birds over, 17th August.

2006

Scotney Court, Lydd, two birds, 25th February.

Samphire Hoe/Capel-le-Ferne, two birds, seen on several occasions, 19th April until 6th May.

Dartford, two birds over, 14th May.

Sandwich Bay, single bird over, 26th September.

2007

Samphire Hoe, two birds, 26th March. These birds were seen into April with presumably the same birds visiting Capel-le-Fern, Wye, and Dungeness.

Kingswood, Maidstone, possibly a different bird, 17th June.

St. Mary’s Bay, Dymchurch, possibly one of the original birds on 6th August.

Dover, two birds, 10th August, and between 30th September and 17th October, they were seen at Dungeness, Scotney, and Chartham.

Belmont Park, Sheldwich, had a single on 23rd October.

Dungeness Reserve hosted the wandering two on 10th December.

2008

Samphire Hoe, up to four birds present up until 25th April.

Boughton Park, single bird, 1st February.

Bedgebury Pinetum, single bird, 8th February.

Godmersham, single bird, 14th February.

Capel-le-Ferne, single bird, 31st March.

Lydden Down, single bird, 25th April.

Kingswood, Maidstone, single bird, March.

Bough Beech, single bird, April.

Kearnsey, four birds over, 22nd July.

Dungeness BO, four birds over, 23rd July.

St. Margaret’s, two birds, 22nd August.

Newington, two birds, 14th September.

Samphire Hoe, two birds, 19th September.

St. Margaret’s, three birds, 27th September.

Samphire Hoe, four birds, 28th September.

Samphire Hoe, two birds, 6th October until late December.

Dover, two birds, 10th October.

Foreness, three birds, 4th November.

Little Cheyne Court, single bird, 23rd November.

Bedgebury Pinetum, single bird, 23rd November.

Bockhill, two birds, 6th December.

Sandwich Bay, two birds, 11th December.

New Romney, single bird, 19th December.

Bedgebury Pinetum, two birds, 20th December.

Bockhill, two birds, 23rd December.

2009

Pegwell Bay to Dungeness, reports from various localities of one-two birds during January to April. Impossible to say how many birds in total present.

Pembury, two birds present during January.

Dungeness, two birds, 15th March.

Capel-le-Ferne, two birds, 15th March.

Dungeness, two birds, 15th March.

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 15th March.

Boughton Park, single bird, 15th March.

East area, four young fledged from a cliff site.

North area, two young fledged from a quarry site.

Bockhill, four birds, 10th October.

Abbotscliffe, two birds, 10th October.

Paddock Wood, two birds, during September.

Cliffe Pools, two birds, during September.

Bough Beech, single bird, during October.

Cooling, single bird, during October.

2010

Up to five of this recent colonist appeared at four sites in Central, 10 in East, three in North and seven in both South and West, but wandering individuals, pairs or families make total numbers difficult to assess. Favoured areas in the first four months were Bedgebury in Central, Bockhill, Church Hougham, Langdon Cliffs, North Foreland and Pegwell Bay in East, Botolphs Bridge, Dungeness, Royal Military Canal at Hythe and Samphire Hoe in South and Bough Beech and Halling in West.

Breeding was reported from one site in West and one in East, only the latter producing young. In the May-August period Ravens additionally paid visits to Leeds Castle in Central, Chilham in East, Capel-le-Ferne, in South, where there were two adults and two juveniles in June, and Wouldham in West.

In the last four months new places on the itinerary were Boughton Park, Cranbrook and Sissinghurst in Central, South Foreland in East, Folkestone (three birds) and Scotney GPs in South, Cliffe in North and Knockholt and New Hythe in West.

2012

In the first half of the year this huge passerine was seen at one site in Central, eight in East, one in North, eight in South and three in West. The total of 21 is the same as for 2011. Highest counts were family parties of five at St Margaret’s on Mar 8th, six at Dungeness on May 22nd after four young fledged, four at Cliffe on June 19th and four at Wouldham on the 21st.

In the second half of the year 26 sites were visited, the same as in 2011.

A pair bred and fledged four young at a site in West (per KOS Database).

2013

One-two of our largest passerine made their presence felt at five sites in Central. In East 26 sites were favoured, with highest counts of five at Sandwich Bay in December and four there and at St Margaret’s in October. There were reports from 16 sites in North, with three birds at Elmley NNR and 15 in South with up to three birds at Samphire Hoe in October. Of 12 sites in West, Cobham recorded four in June and there were three at Wouldham in July. In February a bird was seen carrying food near Dover and in May there was a nest with two young at Swanscombe and two adults and four young at Dungeness.

2014

Recorded during every month of the year with the highest counts at the beginning of the year were six at Folkestone Warren in February and three at Sandwich Bay in March. Rather like last year there were nests at Swanscombe and Dungeness with three and four young respectively. Later in the year highest counts were three at Bockhill in August and October and four at Dungeness and three at Cliffe Pools in September.

2015

Recorded during every month of the year with the highest counts at the beginning of the year were six at Samphire Hoe in January, four at Kingsdown in February, and six at St Margaret’s and four at Pegwell Bay in April.

Probable breeding was reported from Capel-le-Ferne and successful breeding from Dungeness PS, Swanscombe and Cliffe Pools where one bird was seen feeding on a lamb’s carcass.

High counts during the rest of the year included four at Folkestone on July 10th, four at Temple Ewell on the 13th and four at Oare Marshes on the 18th. Six were seen at Samphire Hoe on several dates during August, with further sixes in September at Capel-le-Ferne on the 12th and Bough Beech on the 26th. There was an impressive count of 12 at Samphire Hoe on Oct 2nd with four at Abbotscliffe on the 14th, followed by five at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Nov 28th and 11 at Bedgebury Pinetum on Dec 17th.

2016

Ravens are early breeders and the first report of nest building came from Swanscombe on Feb 16th. Breeding reports came from three other sites although it would appear that Ravens are now established as breeding species across the county. Broods or family parties appeared at Samphire Hoe, Seasalter, Vauxhall Lakes, Lydden and Lower Rainham. One bird was seen raiding Black-headed Gull nests on Fowley Island and taking the contents to Sheppey. At Bough Beech one was seen sporting jesses. The highest count of the year was nine at Samphire Hoe in January, while counts of five birds were received from Coldred, Dungeness, Harbledown and Otterham Creek.

2017

In January one bird was seen to attack a Peregrine at St. Margaret’s on 4th January. Breeding was reported from Dungeness Peninsula, Rede Common, Samphire Hoe and Swanscombe. Fledged young were also at Bockhill, Chetney, Cliffe Pools and Dungeness. Power Station.

Highest individual counts were 10 at Dungeness BO in September, seven at Sandwich Bay in September, seven also at Kenardington in October and six at Beachborough in June.

Dungeness, another [see 18th October et seq.], 23rd-31st January, see also 1990.

1993

Dungeness, 31st August-11th September, 19th September & 1st December.

1994

Dungeness, 3rd-4th April.

1998

Dungeness, 30th-31st March, trapped both days.

2001

Dungeness, 27th-30th March.

2003

Dungeness, lighthouse garden, 14th October, and again at Long Pits, 16th October.

2005

Dungeness, single bird on 2nd May.

Dungeness, another, 8th May.

2015

Dungeness, single bird on 10th September.

2017

Samphire Hoe CP, single bird on 15th October.

2018

Dungeness, single bird on 11th April.

Rose-coloured Starling

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING

Sturnus roseus

Rare Vagrant

pre-1844

Lydd, adult obtained, no date, now at Dover Museum.

1844

Margate area, two seen, one male shot, June.

1857

Frindsbury, nr. Rochester, shot, summer.

1863

Barming, male, shot, no date, now at Rochester Museum.

1888

Wingham, adult, shot, ‘some years prior to 1889’, now in Hammond collection, Canterbury.

Godmersham, immature shot, mid-summer.

1889

Near Wingham, seen, January.

1891

Near Margate, shot, no date.

1906

Near Ham Street, early April.

1937

Dungeness, immature female, early June.

1951

Tunbridge Wells, adult, February.

1953

Tunbridge Wells, adult, 11th January.

1971

Sandwich, adult, 11th September.

Rough Common, Canterbury, 20th November to 12th December.

1972

Sandwich, juvenile, 22nd-27th February.

1976

Northwood Hill, adult, 22nd May.

1990

Biddenden, first-summer, 12th-13th May.

Foreness, juvenile, 10th September.

1994

Aylesford, first-winter, 22nd March until 21st April.

1996

Deal, juvenile, 16th-21st September.

1997

Dungeness, juvenile, 27th-29th September.

2002

Sandwich, adult, 11th-20th July.

2008

Reculver, juvenile, 18th September.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 18th October.

2010

Ramsgate, juvenile, 11th November.

2012

Gillingham, adult, 3rd June.

Samphire Hoe, juvenile, 20th September.

2014

Borstal, adult, 28th-29th May.

2015

Langley Heath, juvenile, 7th-30th June.

2016

Dungeness BO, juvenile, 19th-20th September.

2017

Dungeness BO, single bird, 1st June.

2018

Bishopstone, adult male, 26th-27th May.

Dungeness, adult, 27th-28th May.

North Foreland, adult, 2nd June.

Cliffe Pools, adult, 3rd June.

Pegwell Bay, adult, 3rd June.

No Longer Accepted

1900

Near Appledore, male, 4th June.

1901

Near Appledore, adult male, 14th May.

1902

Near Appledore, male, 10th June.

1925

Romney Marsh, male, 19th June.

Starling

Swainson’s Thrush

SWAINSON’S THRUSH

Catharus ustulatus

Rare Vagrant

1976

Sandwich Bay, trapped, 27th October.

Ring Ouzel
Blackbird

Black-throated Thrush

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH

Turdus atrogularis

Rare Vagrant

1993

Denge Marsh, adult female, 2nd May.

No Longer Accepted

1909

Newenden, adult male, 30th January.

1911

Wittersham, adult male, 15th March.

Dusky Thrush

Dusky Thrush

Turdus eunomus

Very rare Vagrant

2013

Margate Cemetery, first-winter female, 15th-18th May.

Fieldfare
Redwing
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush

Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

RUFOUS-TAILED SCRUB ROBIN

Cercotrichas galactotes

Rare Vagrant

1951

The Wicks, Dungeness, and in E. Sussex, 12th September.

No Longer Accepted

1907

Near Hythe, adult male, 15th July.

Spotted Flycatcher
Robin

Bluethroat

Bluethroat

Luscinia svecica

Scarce spring and common autumn migrant

With over 100 records between 1842 and 1976, comprising more than 130 birds, this species would not normally be included in this list. However, as a species which causes great interest amongst birders, it is included here. Unless stated otherwise all records are of the nominate Red-spotted race (L. s. svecica), or of uncertain race. Selected records pre-1977, and all records since are included here –

Locality in the North, probably Hoo peninsula, taken into care to Wainscott bird hospital with broken wing sometime prior to 19th October when it was first noted, remained in care until it died in summer 1995.

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Another bitterly cold day with a brisk ESE wind and sunny skies.A short circuit around the Paddock, Droveway and Freedown during which time I didn't see a single other person! Sadly the birds were similarly scarce with three Firecrest (two Droveway and one in Wood) being the highlight. Siskins were again moving with one group […]

The COVID-19 restrictions on access to the Dungeness Estate will be lifted on Friday 29th May. The Observatory building and hides will, however, have to remain closed for the time being. Many thanks for your understanding.

Friday 5th With the weather having returned to something more like March 1,300 Swifts moved into a brisk W breeze, mostly from 0645-0730 before the sun emerged. The local Buzzards were soon up and about and a Siskin flew SW but the main interest of the morning was on Lighthouse Down where the pair of […]